A member of the European Union is Luxembourg (EU). As a result, other EU citizens are allowed to travel to and conduct business inside the nation. People from the European Free Trade Association are similarly affected (EFTA). Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are members of this group.
EU/EFTA citizens
With a valid identity card or passport, citizens of the EU/EFTA may enter and stay for up to three months. They have to be one of the following to stay longer:
- A company employee
- Independent
- Attending a public or private institution of higher learning
- Have enough money to not strain the social security system and health insurance
The local authority offices are where you must apply for a registration certificate even though you technically do not require a visa or permit.
New member state nationals are still required to apply for a work permit to the employment office.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Most non-EU nationals need a visa to stay for up to three months. A local Luxembourg embassy or consulate is where you can submit your short-stay visa application. You will often need to submit:
- an application
- a valid passport
- proof of the purpose of your visit
- accommodation details
- and a return ticket
This permit replaces the conventional work permit and functions as both a residence and a work permit. One is available at the embassy or consulate in your area. The identical applications can typically be obtained from a Dutch or Belgian embassy if a Luxembourg Embassy is unavailable.
How to apply for a Luxembourg visa or permit
To immigrate to Luxembourg, several documents are required, such as:
- a passport that is valid until a certain date after arrival
- birth certificates of all family members
- marriage or divorce certificates
- proof of financial means
- proof of school admission for students
Most of the documents have to be translated. The permission typically takes three months to be issued.
If you are a qualified national of a third country, you may be able to obtain a waiver and a residence permit. This is true if there are not enough suitable applicants for the position for which you are seeking.
Remember that if your profile appeals to Luxembourg, permits are simpler to get. An individual from a third country may be granted a residence visa for a highly qualified worker in the case of a highly skilled vocation.
Citizenship in Luxembourg
Before, persons who intended to move to Luxembourg and wanted to seek citizenship had to relinquish their previous citizenship. Dual or multiple citizenships are, however, now permitted as of 2009.
To become a Luxembourgish citizen, you must be 18 years old, have lived in Luxembourg for 10 years, and speak all three official languages (French, German, and Luxembourgish). In contrast, you can submit a citizenship application after five years. You’ll need to be related to the nation through marriage, adoption, or birth.
Schengen Visas
Those expats who have previously traveled to or lived in Europe may be familiar with the Schengen visa concept. The pact, which aimed to do away with border controls between signatory nations, was signed in a town in Luxembourg called Schengen. With this form of visa, you are unrestricted in your travels among the member nations and are not subject to border checks or other visa requirements.
If you are traveling to Luxembourg in advance, Schengen visas are an excellent short-term choice and are valid for 90 days. If you’re unsure whether you’ll need a visa, check this list of countries (in French) to see if you’re required to apply for a Schengen visa. Not all visitors are required to do so.
